What is GoCArma?

GoCarma is a smartphone app that enables you to automatically declare your vehicle occupancy so that you can be eligible for HOV toll discounts.

When you sign up, we will send you a GoCarma Pass - a small Bluetooth-enabled device that you keep in your car’s glove box. This enables any occupant with the GoCarma app on their phone to be automatically counted in the car.

Please note that GoCarma is currently being tested with a small group of users in the Dallas Fort-Worth area only.

Where can I use Carma Tolling?

Today, GoCarma is only being used as part of a Pilot Test in the Dallas Fort-Worth area. It is not yet available for general use.

If you wish to be notified when GoCarma is available in your area, please email team@gocarma.com.

Who is carma?

We’re a world leader in technology that encourages and enables high occupancy commuting.

Our mission is to fight traffic gridlock and save people time on their commute by filling up empty seats in private cars.

Today, we are conducting a Pilot Test with a small group of users in the Dallas Fort-Worth area. This means that using Carma Tolling does not yet have any influence on whether you receive a HOV discount.

The only way to receive HOV discounts in the area is to use the Drive on TEXpress app to pre-declare your vehicle occupancy.

How do I get a HOV toll discount?

Each occupant must have either 1) the GoCarma app installed on their phone, or 2) an Occupant Pass (if they don’t have a smartphone).

An Occupant Pass is a small Bluetooth-enabled device that can be carried with you when you travel in the car to have your occupancy detected in the vehicle.

At least one occupant in the vehicle must have the GoCarma app installed on their phone.

Does everyone in the vehicle need the App?

GoCarma is designed to be as simple as possible. This means you don’t need to do anything when you get in the car. You don’t even have to open the app.

Once you have logged into the app and granted the relevant permissions, you should see a screen saying “Not In Car”. From this moment, you will always be detected when you are in a vehicle with a GoCarma located in its glove box.

What do I need to do when I am in the Car?

The GoCarma app uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) simply to detect when it is in close proximity to a GoCarma Pass and other occupant devices.

This enables Carma to determine the vehicle occupancy and report that to the toll agency, with minimal impact on your battery.

Why does the app need access to Bluetooth?

GoCarma uses your location when you are detected in the vehicle only. This is to determine your eligibility for a toll rebate. For example, the system needs to know if you have driven through a toll plaza.

Why does the App need access to my location?

GoCarma has a minimal impact on your smartphone battery. However, the app does sometimes use Location Services when it detects that it is in the car to validate your eligibility for HOV toll discounts. Any app that uses location services will naturally use more battery than other apps, so this explains why you may have noticed your battery is being used a little bit more.

I notice that my phone's battery is being used more.

Why is that?

In the GoCarma app, go to the Menu and select “Cars”. There you can add your car details. It then takes us a few days to send you out your GoCarma Pass.

You will need to enter your license plate and toll tag details.

How do I get a GoCArma PASS?

In the GoCarma app, go to the Menu and select “Occupant Passes”. There you can request Occupant Passes for your children or others without a smartphone. It then takes us a few days to send you out your Occupant Passes.

Then, as long as one occupant has the GoCarma app setup on their phone, each Occupant Pass will be detected in the car and included in your occupancy count.

How do I get an Occupant PASS?

In the GoCarma smartphone app, you can request an Occupant Pass for your kids. This is a small bluetooth keychain device that you can attach to your child’s backpack, diaper bag or keyring, instead of a smartphone.

You child’s Occupant Pass will work in any registered car. As long as one occupant has the GoCarma app on their phone, the Occupant Pass will be detected in the car. You don’t need to request more than one Occupant Pass per child.

What about kids?

Once you have requested a beacon using the GoCarma app, you should be able to inspect the status of your requested beacon on the Cars or Occupant Passes screen.

Please allow 5 days for your GoCarma Pass to arrive. If you have not received your beacon after 5 days, please send us a message in the app (using “Chat With Us”) or send an email to team@gocarma.com.

I haven't received my GOCARMA PASS or Occupant PASS yet!

What now?

What about quickly registering passengers (e.g. airport pickups)?

GoCarma makes it easy for a driver to get passengers quickly setup with the system by following these simple steps:

Open the app and select “Invite a Friend” from the menu.

Select “Message” to send an SMS to your passenger.

They will receive an SMS with a link to download the app.

After downloading the app, the passenger simply taps to Sign Up.

The passenger fills out a short sign up form and verifies their phone number.

That’s it! It should only take the passenger a couple of minutes to complete the sign up process.

They will then be immediately included in the car’s occupancy count.

Where can I find my history?

You can view your history in the GoCarma app History screen. The History screen shows you your TEXpress Lane toll transactions, along with whether or not you have earned a HOV toll discount or not.